(Beijing) – A large proportion of Chinese health care workers are smokers and some regularly smoke in front of patients, a leading health expert said at a recent tobacco-related forum.

The finding led experts to say such practices in the medical profession are sending an inconsistent message to the public about the dangers of smoking.

China ranks first globally in terms of the proportion of smokers among male health care workers, which accounted for 40 percent, tobacco expert Wang Chen said July 16. He added many health care workers have a low awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use and dependence, in addition to existing tobacco prevention programs.